Tractor-wheel



W. ENRIGHT.

TRACTOR WHEEL,

A 4 APPLICATION FILED OCT. 31,1919. 1,363y461 Patented Deo. 28, 1920,

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Ulltllflil@ l m in een TJVLLAM ENBGHT, OF DETROT, MICHGAN, ASSGNOR TO W'HTEHEAD z; KALES IRON "WORKS, OF DETROT, MICHIGAN, A, CORP'ORATIGN OF MICHIGAN.

TBACTR-WHEEL.

incensi.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Bec. 28. tlfl.

To (/,ZZ 107mm t muy conce/m.

Be it known that t 7innmia Enmerrr, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Detroit, in the county of Wayne and State of lvlichigan, have invented certu in new and useful mprovements in T ractor-lllheels, of which the following is a specification, reference being had'therein to the accompanying drawings.

The invention relates to wheels more particularly designed for use on tractors and it is among the objects of the invention, first, to obtain a strong, light and inexpensive consti-notion; second, to obtain a standard construction of wheel which is applicable to various specific constructions of hubs; third, to form a cast-in connection between the hub and spokes without danger of weakening the latter. With these and other objects in View the invention comprises the novel construction as hereinafter set forth.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a sectional elevation of the wheel;

Fig. 2 is a cross section taken on the plane of the axis of the hub;

Fig. 3 is a cross-section on line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

is the rim of the wheel which may be of any suitable construction, but which as shown is of channel cross-section with the flanges thereof turned radially inward. Bis a hub formed of cast metal, and C are wrought metal spokes for uniting the rim and hub.

With certain constructions of wheels heretofore used the spokes have been united to a hub by being cast therein, but it has been found that this method results in the crystallization of the metal in the spoke, frequently causing breaking of the same adjacent to the point of attachment. To avoid this difliculty `'certain other constructions of wheels have been formed with hubs having radially extending annular flanges to which the spokes are united by riveting. With such constructions, in order to secure the requisite strength in the attachment flanges, the hubs are usually formed of cast steel, this greatly adding to the cost of construction. @n the other hand, when the hubs are formed of cast iron, the dimensions are necessarily such as to greatly increase the weight of the structure. W ith my improved construction avoid the objections and difficulties just referred to by forming the hub of cast iron and providing the saine with a pressed sheet metal annulus cast thereinto and forming a radially extending flange. This flange forms a means of attachment for the spokes which may be riveted or otherwise secured thereto and the fact that the flange is annular and continuous avoids danger of breaking through weakening by the casting-in process.

ln detail, C is a pressed sheet metal annulus which has an inner portion for embedding in a flange D upon the hub, said portion having a series of apertures E therein for anchoring portions of the cast ing. rEhe outer portion of the annulus is fashioned for engagement with the spokes and specifically shown is pressed into a zig-zag form for engagement with spokes extending at different angles. rlhe spokes are preferably formed of straight, flat bars F of wrought metal which at their outer ends are riveted at G to the inwardly-extending flanges A of the rim. One series of these spokes extends from the rim directly to the flange D of the hub upon the same side of the wheel, while another series eX- tends from the same flange of the rim to the flange of the hub on the opposite side of the wheel. rl`he difference in angle of the two series of spokes is provided for in the zigzag form of the annulus C and as indicated at G are portions in the plane of the spokes F, and G2 are portions in the plane of the spokes F', said portions being connected' by oblique portions G3. 'lhev spokes are preferably placed in the pockets between the oblique portions G2 and are secured respectively to the portions G and G2 by riveting.

In the complete structure of the wheel there will be a series of spokeson opposite sides thereof extending from the flanges of the hub to the flanges of the rim and also there will be diagonally crossing spokes from the rim flanges on one side to the hub flanges on the opposite side. This produces a very strong trussing of the rim and permits of lightening the structure while still maintaining the requisite strength.

In the manufacture of tractor wheels there are few differences in form of the rim or outer portion ofthe wheel, but in dierent constructions of tractors the hubs of the wheels may be varied. With my construction all the wrought metal parts may be of standard construction and various modified constructions of hub may be used therewith by merely casting in the presed sheet metal member C into the particular hubs required.

Another advantage of my improved construction is the easy replacement of spokes when broken, or otherwise injured. This is by reason of the fact that the spokes are not'J directly cast into the hub, but are attached to the annulus from which they can beremoved and replaced without changing the hub.

l/Vhat I claim as my invention is 1. ln a tractor wheel, the combination with a rim anda series of spokes extending radially inward therefrom, of a cast metal hub, and a pressedsheet metal annulus cast vthe inner ends of said spokes are attached,

all being of standard construction, and hubs ofvariable design united to the spokes by the casting in oi' said annulus.

3. A tractor wheel comprising a rim, a cast metal hub, a pressed sheet metal annulus cast into said hub and having its peripheral portion of zig-zag form, and spokes connected to the different angling portions of said zig-Zag annulns and extending therefrom to said rim at different points of. attachment thereto.

In testimony whereof I affix my sicnature. y WILLIAM ENRiaHT. 

